Adjustable cotton plant guide



Jan. 12, 19 54 J, RUST 2,665,534

ADJUSTABLE COTTON PLANT GUIDE v Filed Dec. 10, 1952 INVENTOR. JOHIN D; RUST FISH/2' g m; y W

T T o mEYs Patented Jan. 12, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to cotton picking machines and more specifically to an adjustable attachment for guiding the cotton plants into engagement with a rotary fiufiing device.

The present application constitutes an improvement of certain of the features shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 219,145, filed April 4, 1951, now Patent 2,657,514.

In cotton fields that are relatively free from weeds, vines, grasses and the like and the lint of the open cotton bolls is in a fluffy state or condition the rotating spindles of a cotton picking machine readily engage the lint for winding the cotton thereon, thus thoroughly picking the open cotton from the stalk. Such a condition, however, does not always exist in a field of open cotton, due to boll weevil infestation, honey- 'dew, or other adverse conditions. Under such circumstances the lint of the cotton is not fiufiy and therefore not readily engaged by the spindles.

In certain of my previous designs I have employed a rotary cotton flufiing device in conjunction with stationary guiding elements that have proven to be quite effective in engaging the open cotton bolls for fiufiing the lint of the open cotton. However, in said previous designs, the stationary guiding elements, which are mounted on the stalk guards, were so positioned with respect to the rotary fiufiing device as to define a relatively narrow and restricted passage for the cotton plants. Thus under certain conditions, such as fields of green cotton plants, this fixed position of the stationary guiding elements to define a relatively narrow and restricted passage in conjunction with the rotary fiuffing device, was such that the green cotton plants and the green bolls thereon would be damaged to some extent in passing through such a passage. Therefore, when such conditions were encountered, with cotton picking units embodying my previous designs, it was often necessary to remove the stationary guiding elements so as to 'provide a passage of such a size that the green cotton plants could pass therethrough without being damaged.

The removal of the stationary guiding elements is not only a time consuming operation but also a laborious one. Furthermore it was often found that the condition of the cotton plants in adjacent fields was such that it was necessary to remove the stationary guiding elements in order to pick the cotton in one field while the next field required the use of said stationary guiding elements in order to effectively and efliciently pick the cotton.

The present invention is designed to overcome such conditions and is readily adaptable for use in any type of cotton field.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide for use with a cotton picking unit a rotary cotton fluifer and an adjustable plant guiding device cooperating therewith for guiding and directing the plants into engagement with the fiuifer.

Another object is to provide for use with a cotton picking unit a rotary cotton fiuffer and a plant guiding device wherein the latter device is adjustable with respect to the rotary fluffer for increasing or decreasing the width of the passageway between said device and fiufier through which the cotton plants pass.

Another object is to provide for use with a cotton picking unit having a picking plant passageway with a plant guiding device mounted therein which includes a plurality of members rigidly mounted in spaced relation on an adjustable vertical support for moving the guiding device into or out of operative position in said passageway.

A further object is to provide for use with a cotton picking unit a rotary cotton fiulfer and an'adjustable plant guiding device wherein the latter device may be provided with serrated finer members for aiding in the flufifing of the cotton during the guiding of the cotton plants into engagement with the rotary fluffer.

Further objects of the present invention are to provide for use with a cotton picking machine an adjustable plant guiding device that is readily and easily removed from or mounted in the pickmg unit of the cotton picking machine, which is economical of manufacture and wherein the elements or members of the guiding device are capable of being replaced with a minimum of effort and time.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing and the manner in which all of the various objects are realized will appear in the following description which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention. I

Referring to the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment'of the invention is illustrated:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the front or forward end portion of a cotton pickingunit with the cover removed and showmg a rotary cotton fiufiing device and the adjustable plant guiding device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view with parts broken away of the adjustable plant guiding device of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the plant guiding device and its relation with the picking spindles and stalk guards; and

Figure 4 is an end View with parts broken away and shown in section of a modifiedv form of the guide fingers of the plant guiding device shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a portion of the forward-end of: acotton picking unit having a side frame member 10, top and bottom end frame members H and and a transverse intermediate frame bracing-..member 13. The picking unit carrying structure and the support 43 by a nut and bolt 44.

support. is affixed to the forward portion of spindle carrying slats are not illustrated as they do not constitute a part of the present invention, however, these parts'of the picking unit may be of the same general type aszshownain Rust Patents 2,085,046; 2,175,216; 2,502,063; ..2,548,069

. and others.

A sprocket chain M entrained'about a suitable sprocket It; carries spindle slats, not shown, which have spindles i6 journalcd therein. The intermediate frame bracing member 13 has 'secured thereto a guide rail l'l-which is employed for guiding and supporting the sprocket chain 14. A picking plant passageway 18 extends from the forward end to a point adjacent the rear'end of the cotton picking unitso that the spindlesit which project into the passageway are capable of engaging the fluffy lint of .the-xopen cotton bolls as the plants pass through the passageway during the travel of the cotton picking machine along a row of plants. The forward or entrance end portion of the passageway 18 is defined by curved elements 19, which together with'bolllifting elements 20 engage-and direct .the cotton plants into the picking mechanism as the cotton picking machine moves along. a row: of plants.

The intermediate frame'member l3:has avertically extending plate 22 secured theretoby bolts 23 which plate has a pair of arms 24.mounted.on opposite sides thereof by nut and bolt25. cone of the arms 24 has an outwardlyprojecting bracket 26 aflixed thereon to-which. a platememberifl is secured by nuts and boltsp28. The :plate member 27 has aflixed theretoaidepending shaft-'30 upon which is mounted for rotationiwith respect thereto a sleeve or member; 3.1. .Theqsleeve lii has mounted thereon, at diametrically:opposite points and throughout its length-brackets Hand 33 which have a plurality of vertically spaced flexible members or flaps 34 clamped therebetween. The upper end of the-sleeve or =member 3| is provided with a pulley 36 around which is entrained a belt 31 that is also. entrained about another pulley, not shown, whichis' rotatably driven by the shaft upon which sprocket 15 is mounted.

The frame member 13 has aidepending'frame support 38 mounted thereon, which support has fixed thereon in vertically spaced. relation a plurality of guide fingers or membersrfifl, The fingers 39 project along one sideandztowards the entrance of the plant passageway I8 with the free ends 40 of said fingers being curved-and arranged to extend around the rotarymember 3! but in spaced relation therewith. .The guide fingers or members 39 are so spacedon' the vertical supporting member 38- as. to permit the flexible members or flaps34tto t-pass therebesecured, thereto in vertically spaced tween. That is, a guide finger or member 39 is adapted to extend between the spaced adjacent flexible flaps 34 mounted within the brackets 32 and 33 on the rotating sleeve 3 l The flexible members or flaps 34 are of suflicient length so that in their path of rotation they will extend into the plant passageway 18 to engage and fluff the lint of the open cotton bolls as the cotton picking machine moves along a row of plants. A housing 42 enclosesthe rotating member 3i and'flexible flaps 34with the forward portion of the housing being secured to a vertical The vertical the picking unit frame, not shown. The rear end -portion of the housing i2 is open and an arcuate shaped baffle plate. .45 secured to the vertical support 38 extends into the housing, but is spaced therefrom to provide an air inlet passage 45.

The end frame members H and 12 have secured thereto avertically extending support or frame member 41, Figure 3, preferably ofangular configuration. The frame-'member -41 has relation a plurality of stalk guards 45 which extend along the inner side of the plant passageway. 18, The end frame member H: has an. angular shaped platemember 59 secured theretoby suitable nuts and bolts 51. The plate member '56 is provided with a depending lug or projection-:52, l'-igure 2. The end frame member 12 has a plate member 53afiixed thereto by suitable nuts'and bolts .54. The plate member 53 is provided with an upwardly extending lug or projection 55,:Fig

ure 2, which is'disposed in aligned relation with the projection 52 0f the plate 50 that is mounted on .the end frame member H. -A tubular sleeve '52 and 55 for rotative movement-with respect thereto.

As shown in Figure 2 the tubular member fifi has adjacent its upper end an outwardly extending armor lever. 58 which has one end welded asat 60 to thetubular sleeve 56. Theleverfiii is'disposed in a plane'normal to the longitudinal axisof the sleeve- 56. and is providedat its outer end with abolt-6i whichprojects through a slot 62 provided in a plate fili that-is aflixed to the guide rail I! -bya nutandbolt- E5. The bolt 6| in the end of the lever fiB is providedwith'a nut for securing the-bolt within the slot-I52 and thus anchor thelever-to the plate. Thus .the tubular sleeve 56 -may be rotated upon. theipins 52 and-55 through movement of 'the 'lever 53 and may be-secured in various positions by means 'of' theslot 62 provided in the plate 83 through'which the bolt: Elextends. 'Aplurality of vertically spaced armsofihavean endsecured tothe tubular sleeve-56 and extend inza plane normal to the longitudinalaxis of thefsleeve. The arms B6-may have secured to their outer ends," by any suitable means, guideiflngerso'or members tit-which are 'adapted' to tengager'and guide the 'cotton plantsvinto the path bfrotation of the flexible-members or. flaps 34. :While the arms 66 may be of any suitableishapescr design it ehasbeenl-foundzfrom experiencexthat the useof armsof a tubular or cylindrical configuration has-proven verysatisfactory. Furthermorerin lieu of the guide fingers. or membersGB being secured :to :the. arms 66 said arms may be so formedasztoterminate in guide members.

'As shown inFigure 4 the'ffingers or members 68*wwhichguide1the. cotton plants in the path of rotation of the flexible members 34 may have amxed thereto serrated rubber facing members 59 which will aid in fluffing the lint of the open cotton bolls while at the same time guiding the cotton plants into engagement with the flexible members 34. Thus when the fingers 68 are provided with serrated facing members 69 said serrated facing members will tend to fluff the lint of the open cotton bolls disposed on the side of the plants adjacent the inner side of the plant passageway and which might not be engaged by the flexible members 34.

In the operation of the present invention the cotton plants are directed into the passageway it as the cotton picking machine moves along a row of cotton plants. As the cotton picking machine moves along the row of cotton plants the spindles H carried by sprocket chain M are rotated as they move into the plant passageway and the sleeve 3] with the flexible flaps 34 thereon is rotatably driven by the belt 31. As the cotton plants enter the plant passageway E8 the guide fingers 39 and the members 68 carried on the ends of the arms 66 engage the plants and guide them into the path of rotation of the flexible members 34, which members strike the open cotton bells and thus flufi the lint so that it is in the best condition for being engaged and wrapped around the rotating spindles If the condition of the cotton plants is such that they might be damaged in passing through the restricted space in the plant passageway de fined by the guide fingers 39 and the fingers 68, mounted on the ends of the arms 66, the outer end of the lever 58 may be adjusted on the plate 63 by means of the bolt 6! which projects through the slot 62 in the plate 63. That is, the lever 58 may be moved inwardly towards the guide rail ll, which movement would cause the tubular sleeve 56 to rotate on the pins 52 and 55 thereby moving the arms 66 and the fingers 6B inwardly towards the stalk guards 48 increasing the space between the guide fingers 39 and the fingers 68. This arrangement allows the cotton plants to pass through the passageway without being crowded between the fingers 33 and 68. In fact the fingers 68 may through the movement of the lever 53 be moved away from the guide fingers 39 into abutting engagement with the stalk guards 48 so that the cotton plants would pass through the plant passageway [8 as freely as though the fingers 68 had been removed.

Under field conditions wherein the lint of the open cotton bolls is in a fiuffy state the use of the rotary fiuffer and the adjustable plant guiding device might not be necessary. Thus the belt 31 could be disconnected from the pulley 36 and the bolt 6| on the lever 58 could be moved inwardly in the slot 62 of the plate 63 whereby the finger members 58 would move into abutting engagement with the stalk guards 48. With the plant guiding device so positioned and with the belt 31 removed from the pulley 36 of the rotary fiuffer the cotton plants would pass through the passageway l3 in a manner as though the flumng device and guiding device had been removed from the cotton picking unit.

Thus it is apparent that the rotary fluifing device and the plant guiding device may be adjusted so as to be substantially inoperative or the fiufiing device may be rotated and the guiding device arranged in various positions in the passageway 58 between the stalk guards 48 and the rotary fiuinng device depending upon'tlie coriditions of the cotton.

The adjustable plant guiding device may have mounted on the ends of the arms 66 finger members 68 having serrated rubber shoe members 69 secured thereto by screws m. In the use of the serrated rubber finger members 69 the cotton plants entering the passageway I3 will be guided into the path of rotation of the flaps 34 in the same manner as when the fingers 68 are employed. However, the serrated finger members 69 will, in guiding the cotton plants .into'engagement withthe flaps 3%, be drawn or dragged across certain of the open cotton bolls that are disposed on the side of the plants adjacent the inner side of the plant passageway. Thus the members 69 not only guide the plants into engagement with the rotary fiufiing device but also tend to fluff the lint of certain of the open cotton bolls on the cotton plants.

I claim:

1. A cotton plant guiding device for use with a cotton picking unit having a plurality of rotatably driven cotton picking spindles,'said device including an adjustable support adapted to be mounted on said unit, a plurality of arms secured to said support in vertically spaced relationand in a plane normal to said support, a member having a serrated surface affixed to an end of each of said arms and a lever secured to said support for adjusting same and moving said members into position for guiding the cotton plants, the serrated surfaces of said members engaging the cotton plants to fluff the cotton.

2. A cotton plant guiding device for use with a cotton picking unit having a plurality of rotatably driven cotton picking spindles, said device including an adjustable support adapted to be mounted on said unit, a plurality of arms secured to said support in vertically spaced relation and projecting therefrom in a common plane, a guide member affixed to an end of each of said arms, a lever having an end aflixed to said support, a plate adjustably secured to the other end of said lever and adapted to be mounted on said unit to vary the position of said guide members for engaging and guiding the cotton plants.

3. A cotton plant guiding device comprising an adjustable support, a plurality of arms secured to said support in vertically spaced relation and projecting therefrom in a common plane, guide members affixed to said arms and serrated rub- ];er facing members secured to said guide memers.

4. A cotton plant guiding device for a cotton picking unit, said device including an adjustable support, a plurality of guide members secured to said support in vertically spaced relation and projecting therefrom in a common plane and means secured to said support for moving said guide members into and out of engagement with the cotton plants.

5. A cotton plant guiding device for a cotton picking unit having a plant passageway and picking spindles for engaging the cotton plants in said passageway and a rotatable fiufiing member positioned near the entrance of the passageway, said device including an adjustable support adapted to be mounted on said unit opposite the rotatable fluffing member, a plurality of superposed arms secured to said support in spaced relation with one another, guide members secured to said arms and means secured to said support for moving said guide members to engage and guide the cotton plants.

6. A cotton plant guiding device for a cotton picking unit having a plant passageway and picking spindles for engaging the cotton plants in said passageway and a rotatable fluffing member positioned near the entrance of the passageway, said device including an adjustable support adapted to be mounted on said unit opposite the rotatable fiufiing member, a plurality of arms 10 secured to said support in vertically spaced relation and in a plane normal to said support, a guide member aflixed to an end of each of said arms, a serrated rubber facing member aflixed to said guide members, a lever having an end aflixed to said support, a plate adjustably secured to the other end of said lever and adapted 8v to be mounted on said unit to vary the position of said serrated rubber facing members for engaging the cotton plants whereby the cotton plants will be directed into engagement with the rotatable fiuffing member.

JOHN D. RUST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,786,851 Johnston et a1. Dec. 30, 1930 2,025,514 Johnston Dec. 24, 1935 2,058,514 Rust et a1 Oct. 27, 1936 2,140,631 Johnston Dec. 20, 1938 2,200,464: Berry May 14, 1940 

